Smith Creek (also known as Smith's Creek) is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
accessed August 15, 2011 tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...
stream of the
North Fork of the
Shenandoah River in the
Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. Its watershed comprises within
Shenandoah and
Rockingham counties on the western slope of the
Massanutten Mountain
Massanutten Mountain is a synclinal ridge in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, located in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is near the West Virginia state line.
Geography
The mountain bisects the Shenandoah Valley just east of Strasburg ...
ridge. Its headwaters lie in Rockingham County just north of
Harrisonburg, and its confluence with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is located just south of
Mount Jackson.
Smith Creek's major tributaries include:
*Mountain Run, which runs from the west slope of the Massanutten Mountain
**Fridley Run, a tributary of Mountain Run
*Dry Fork, which rises just east of Harrisonburg, joining Smith Creek just before Lacey Spring
*Lacey Spring Branch, a short branch which runs from the limestone springs at Lacey Spring
*War Branch, which rises at the base of the Massanutten Mountain southwest of the community of Athlone and continues past the community of Arkton before joining Smith Creek near Moores Mill Road
*Gap Branch, which rises at the base of the Massanutten near
New Market Gap
New Market Gap is a wind gap in the Massanutten Mountain in Virginia. The gap is located approximately in the middle of the range, dividing it into north and south sections.
U.S. Route 211 runs through the gap, connecting New Market in the ...
and joins Smith Creak just prior to the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.
Smith Creek restoration project
Smith Creek has been the beneficiary of a large-scale
stream restoration project to revitalize the stream to a point where the native
trout
Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', '' Salmo'' and '' Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salm ...
species can again thrive. Prior to the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, trout up to 5 and 6 pounds were common in the stream, but as forested land was converted to pasture land for livestock the stream became unsuitable for fish. Restoration techniques include restricting livestock's access to the stream, which will reduce sediment and contamination from fecal bacteria, and planting grasses and trees along the banks, which will reduce erosion and sediment and reduce the stream's temperature by shading the water from the summer sun. By 2006, populations have already been reestablished in Mountain Run, and they have begun migrating downstream.
In 2010, the Smith Creek watershed was named Virginia’s Chesapeake Showcase Watershed in recognition of the community's outstanding efforts to rejuvenate the creek's aquatic ecosystem. Fishermen continue to flock to the creek for its excellent fly fishing. By 2011, Smith Creek was home to
brown trout over and , and
rainbow trout over are not uncommon.
"Fly Fishing in the Shenandoah Valley's Smith Creek."
/ref>
See also
* List of rivers of Virginia
References
{{authority control
Rivers of Virginia
Rivers of Rockingham County, Virginia
Rivers of Shenandoah County, Virginia
Tributaries of the Shenandoah River